Battery cable clamp



Jan. 14, 1941.

BATTERY CABLE CLAMP Filed Sept. 14, 1939 L vile/i v A. F. DEMEO 2,228,344

Patented Jan. 14, 1941 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a terminal clamp for storage batteries such as are generally employed in automobiles. In such installations it is the usual practice to have the ground and live cables clamped to the battery post in a manner which enables them to be readily removed. Frequently, due to corrosion and vibration, the cables break off at the battery clamp and it then becomes necessary to install an entire new cable and new clamp or else solder the cable to the clamp.

It has heretofore been proposed to make socalled solderless clamps embodying gripping means for the cable so that the cable and clamp can be assembled without solder. However, such devices as have heretofore been proposed are of complicated construction, being relatively costly to manufacture, are apt to become separated, or are difiicult to assemble in position and accordingly have not gone into commercial use.

According to the present invention I provide a terminal clamp for storage batteries or the like comprising two hinged clamping elements,

each having a recess to receive the battery post,

and in addition, one of the elements have a recess to receive the cable, and the other element has a portion adapted to grip the cable. Preferably the terminal clamp is secured in position by a bolt which causes the cable to be clamped and the post to be gripped at substantially the same time.

The invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention by way of example, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the battery terminal clamp in assembled position,

Figure 2 is a median section through Figure l,

and

Figure 3 is an elevation of a detail.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a clamping element I which is shaped to provide a substantially semi-cylindrical recess 2 at one end adapted to receive the end of a braided Wire cable 3. A wall 3' limits the amount the cable can extend into the recess to prevent interference with the post gripping mechanism. At its other end the jaw or element I has a semi-conical recess 4 adapted to be disposed about the battery post 5. A lug 6 extends from the clamping element and is apertured at I to receive a suitable bolt 8, a shoulder 8' being provided to 55 prevent the bolt from turning.

If desired, the walls of the recess 2 may have ribs 9 thereon to assist in gripping the cable to prevent it being pulled out.

The other clamping element or jaw It has a pair of perforated lugs II at one end adapted to be received between perforated extensions II on the element I, and a suitable hinge pin I2 passes through the extensions II and lugs II and is riveted or otherwise held in place, whereby the elements I and ID are hinged together. The 10 hinge pin preferably is made of Monel metal, which is resistant to corrosion under the conditions encountered in service. The opposite end of the element II) has a mating conical recess I3 adapted to be received around the battery 15 post and has a lug I4 with an aperture I5 therethrough.

Intermediate the lugs II and conical recess I2 the clamping element I0 is shaped to provide a cable engaging portion I6 which preferably has divided rows of teeth I! and I8 thereon separated by a groove I9. The clamping jaws or elements I and I0 preferably are constructed of brass and are coated with lead in order to reduce or prevent corrosion thereof. The nut 20 25 is screwed onto the bolt 8 and serves to draw the clamping elements I and I 0 together.

In assembling the cable and battery clamp to a battery, the bolt 8 is first removed, the hinged clamping elements separated, and the cable 3 inserted in the recess 2, and the hinged clamping elements I and I0 then are pressed together until the lugs 6 and I4 are brought close enough together so that the bolt 8 may be, passed through the apertures I and I5. The clamp is 35 then applied to the conical terminal post 5 of the storage battery, the post being received in the semi-conical recesses 4 and I3. The nut 2!] is then screwed unto the bolt 8 and serves to draw the clamping elements I and II] toward each 40 other, thus compressing and gripping the cable 3 into the recess 2 by the teeth I! and I8. Should the cable be excessively yielding the clamping elements I and I0 meet at the rear end of the battery post recess, thus limiting the compres- 5 sion of the cable. The nut is tightened until the cable and battery post are firmly gripped and held betweenthe teeth I7 and I8 and ribs 9, the engagement of the rear end of the clamping elements preventing bending of the clamp from releasing the battery post or cable. It will thus be apparent that I have provided a terminal battery clamp of simple construction which is easy to apply to the battery cable or the battery post.

As the parts are permanently hinged together they may be easily assembled to the cable and the cable is automatically gripped by the clamps at the same time that the clamp is tightened. about the battery post.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A terminal clamp for storage batteries comprising two clamping elements, a hinge pin securing together said clamping elements at one end to provide a hinge joint, each element being recessed at the end opposite the hinge joint to receive a battery post, one .of the elements having a substantially cylindrical interior recess adjacent the hinge pin extending with its axis longisist pulling out the cable from the recess, and a bolt at the end opposite the hinge passing through said elements to draw the elements together.

2. A terminal clamp for storage batteries comprising two clamping elements, a hinge pin securing together said clamping elements at one end to provide a hinge joint, each element being recessed at the end opposite the hinge joint to receive a battery post, one of the elements having a substantially cylindrical interior recess adjacent the hinge pin extending with its axis longitudinally of said element, a rib in said recess, and the other element having a cable engaging portion with spaced rows of teeth disposed to resist pulling out the cable from the recess, and a bolt at the end opposite the hinge passing through said elements to draw the elements together.

ANTHONY F. DEMEO. 

